Calling all runners. Or anyone who works out. Or anyone who uses an iPod. Or more aptly, anyone who works out while listening to an iPod. I need your help.

How the hell do you keep the earbuds in your damn ears?

For one thing, the earbuds don’t fit comfortably at all. In fact, they kind of hurt. (Maybe I have small ear holes?) But when I’m sitting still, they will usually stay in place. However, when I’m moving, particularly running, there’s no way they’re staying in there. While it’s still chilly enough, I’ve been wearing a knit ear warmer, which helps keep the earbuds in place. But as it gets warmer, I probably won’t want to keep wearing it.

Is there a solution? Something to keep the earbuds in place, some kind of head band, better earbuds (earphones?), anything?

I’ve been watching the Olympics all week. Whenever I’m home, it’s on, even if I’m only half-paying attention. I don’t know what it is, but I always love the Olympics. I’m not into athletics at all, and I generally hate watching sporting events, but something about this venue is totally different.

It’s not about national pride either, because I usually don’t care who wins. I’m just a sucker for a great story—someone who comes from behind, someone who kicks serious ass (hey Shaun White!), even someone who tries so hard and just can’t quite make it.

A lot of people like summer Olympics much better than winter, but I get into both. Gymnastics, figure skating, track & field, downhill skiing, swimming, short track speed skating. Love it all.

Here are a few conclusions and observations I’ve made this year:

- Cross-country skiing looks like the most boring and tiring activity ever.
- Ice dancing is so bizarre as an Olympic event. A US pair dressed in honky tonk getups and danced to country music. I was so embarrassed.
- Snowboard half-pipe blows my mind.
- Shaun White blows my mind even more.
- Vancouver looks like a very cool place.
- I want to get it on with Apolo Anton Ohno.
- Olympic commentators are SO repetitive and often overly dramatic.
- The US always seems to lead in medal count. Is that just because we have so many athletes?
- The women in these games kick ASS, and it makes me so proud of my gender.

Are you guys watching?

After the whole doctor/pharmacy/prescription saga I detailed yesterday, the plan was for me to pick up my prescriptions, or at least one of them, last night and pay for it out of pocket. Because I needed it and didn’t want to wait for the HSA business to get straightened out.

Last night though, I didn’t get home until after 9:30, and I still had to shower and pack for my business trip. So I decided I’d just pick them up this morning on my way to work. I got there at 8:01 am, and there was a big sign that said the pharmacy was closed. Walgreens the convenience store was open, but the pharmacy, not so much. There was no indication of when they would open, so I accepted I wasn’t getting my prescriptions today and drove on to work.

What’s obnoxious is that the website lists the pharmacy’s hours as 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Meaning they should technically be open at 8:01. I get that they were running a little late, no big deal, except it was just one more layer to this stupid situation.

Then to add insult to injury, I got a call soon after I got to work. An automated message from Walgreens saying, “Don’t forget to pick up your prescriptions!”

Dude, if only it were that easy.

I took the dive. The ad dive. As in, my blog now has ads. I didn’t make the decision right now for any particular reason, other than that it just kind of happened. I had decidedly not had ads for almost four years, and then sometime last year I decided to apply to the BlogHer Ad Network. I had noticed a lot of my favorite blogs, many that I consider to be peers in the blog world, were adding BlogHer ads to their site. I did a little research, decided it was a reputable and respectable network, and I applied.

Then I didn’t hear anything for a long time, and I kind of forgot about it. Suddenly, a couple weeks ago, I was informed that I was accepted. I filled out the paperwork and about three seconds later I was sent the code. A little help from my “webmaster” and bam. Ads.

BlogHer does a nice job though. I don’t think they look tacky or take away from the integrity of the site. And I promise they won’t take away from the integrity of my writing. I will continue to write for the same reasons, in the same manner, and at the same frequency I always have. Just in case you were concerned.

Using random.org, I selected a winner of the $20 Amazon gift card. Of the 19 commenters (two of the 21 comments were repeaters who had an addendum to their first comment, so I didn’t count those), the winner is number 3, my dear friend…

WILLIKAT!!!

Congratulations girl. I’ll email you your prize today. Thanks all for helping me celebrate four years of blogging.

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to join in celebrating four years of me blogging by entering to win a $20 Amazon gift card. Dude, you can buy whatever you want! That leopard-print camera strap you’ve been eyeing? Go for it. I’ll randomly select a winner tomorrow.

It promises to be a relaxing weekend for me, which I love because much of next week is going to be crazy busy with work stuff. The calm before the storm, as they say. Hope your weekend is lovely as well.

I missed my blogiversary! It was last week on the 24th. Four years since I moved over here from LiveJournal (Lord, remember that?). I suppose it’s appropriate that I’m seeking out a fresh look for this blog right around its fourth year. Even though I had a big redesign about a year and a half ago, I’m ready for another change. I think I’ve found someone to do it, too, if all goes well.

I don’t know that I’ve ever done a giveaway here before, but suddenly as I was writing this post, I thought, “Hey, I should celebrate by giving something away!” And then suddenly I was writing about it. So I guess I’m doing a giveaway.

Let’s say a $20 Amazon gift card. Because that’s something just about anyone can use and appreciate.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and tell me who you are, where you blog, and how long you’ve been doing it. If you don’t blog, tell me why. I’ll pick a random winner on Sunday.

It’s been suggested (by someone who’s pretty in tune with web trends) that I redesign my site.* Brad, the ex (ok fine, he’s the one that suggested a new look), has offered to work on the behind-the-scenes stuff, but I need help with the visual design. I have no talents in this area. I know what I think looks good, and I believe I have good taste, but I don’t know how to actually create it.

For this space, I don’t want to use a template, and I also don’t really want to buy a design that is available to anyone. I’d like something original.

So I ask you, dear readers, do you know anyone who could do this? And who won’t cost a fortune of course. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Maybe a new design would inspire me to write more than thrice** a month.

*For the record, I still rather like the look of this blog, but I admit, it doesn’t feel fresh anymore.

**Such a great word!

I’ve been reading Kirtsy for awhile now. It’s a good way to see what’s new and interesting on the internet. So a long time ago (I’m not sure how long anymore…), when the editors announced they were creating a book and asked for book title suggestions, I threw out an idea.

Kirtsy: Take a Bow

And then I forgot about the whole thing. That is, until they announced the decision they’d made some time later. They had combined a few different suggestions and came up with: kirtsy takes a bow. a celebration of women’s favorites online.

As you can probably tell, one of the ideas they used was mine, and as a result I would receive a free copy of the book AND I got to contribute a piece to be published in it.

I submitted a few pieces from my blog and included the URL in case they saw something else they’d like to use instead. I had no idea what they were looking for. None at all. So I submitted a variety of pieces, from heavy to humorous. But, it was so long ago that I honestly don’t remember what exactly I sent. When the book showed up in the mail last week, I started sweating because I had no idea what I was going to find.

I mean I was being published. In print. And I had no idea, out of all the things I’ve written on this blog in the last five years, what I was going to find when I opened the book.

Turns out they selected a post called “Insignificance” that I had written in the wake of my breakup with my ex, Brad.

(That is not a picture of me.)

As I reread the piece, it seemed so strange. I’m so far from that time and those emotions now, so it’s almost surreal to see those words somewhere other than my blog archives. I guess this is one good thing that came out of that hard time (along with the obvious, as the Giraffe pointed out: “You had to go through all that to find me”). It got me published! Ok actually the fact that I came up with a witty title suggestion got me published because Lord knows I would never have made it into this book on my own merit, but the experience of feeling that heart-broken and insignificant gave me something to write that Laura Mayes (the editor) was able to stomach including.

And as much as I am being self-deprecating here, when I reread those words from the book, it so aptly expressed how I was feeling when I wrote it, and really, that’s a sign of good writing. Right?

Even though, I gotta say, this was the coolest part to see…

…it was also pretty awesome to be listed amongst some incredible writers.

Thanks Kirtsy!

…from me, the Giraffe and our adorable kitty.

(If you click that, you can see our very first holiday card as a couple. Which you should do because I’m sorry, but we were too cheap to send a real one to most of you.)

It’s been two days, and people, I’m exhausted. Being in the car two and a half hours a day when it’s dark on a boring highway drive is tiring. I get up earlier than I used to, and I get home much later. Last night I got home just in time to eat a few slices of pizza the Giraffe picked up before we headed out for our book club. I ditched out of that a little early just in time to get home to check my email and fall into bed. Tonight after my long commute I had to stop for gas (which promises to be an every-other-day occurrence), pick up Oberon from the vet and stop for some drive-thru dinner (because the thought of even pouring myself a bowl of cereal sounded like too much work).

The time at work is about what you’d expect on the first couple days. Monday was really busy with meeting people, filling out paperwork and sitting in on a couple meetings. Today mostly consisted of fighting with my computer, sifting through various files to see if I could make sense of anything, and rearranging the furniture in my office.

Today also happens to be my birthday, and it’s been a strange one. I haven’t talked to anyone today who actually knows it’s my birthday. The Giraffe is gone before I get up, nobody at work knew it was my birthday as it’s only my second day there, and my phone was so low on battery that I couldn’t answer it nor even check voicemail (note to self: get a car charger!). I also got tons of happy birthday emails, facebook messages and texts, many of which I couldn’t read until I got home just now. In fact, I forgot several times that today was even my birthday!

I don’t even care though. I want to take a shower, watch a few minutes of TV, and go to sleep. Because I have to be on the road long before the sun comes up tomorrow morning.

PS – Did I mention how thankful I am for this job?

Working in another city is expensive. Besides the inevitable extra gas, oil changes and car maintenance, I’ve had to spend quite a bit of money to prepare myself to make this commute. I know it’s only a little over an hour, and it’s really not SO bad, but I want to be prepared. I’m a paranoid person and I have visions of snow storms with me stuck in them.

So I bought several things to prepare for the worst. First, I put together an emergency kit for my car. Jumper cables, tool kit, first aid kit, flashlight, blankets, and several other small things that might come in handy. I also want to add a small shovel, extra gloves, hats and scarves, a car charger for my phone and snacks (ya know, in case the emergency happens around dinner time). I just renewed my AAA membership, but if my car breaks down and they take a couple hours to get to me, I want to be warm and munchin’ on some crackers while I wait.

I also put together an overnight bag in case it’s not worth it to drive all the way home some night and I choose to stay in a cheap hotel. That meant I had to buy a second of all my toiletries, plus another flat iron because as vain as it sounds, my un-flat-ironed hair should not be seen in public.

I haven’t even started yet, and already this new job is making me broke! Let’s all cross our fingers it’ll be worth it.

(Tomorrow’s my first day. Eeek!)

I won a chicken! Valerie at FogCity Dweller held a contest to give away Mr. Bokbok, a wooden chicken she couldn’t bare to see go anywhere but to a loving home. And I won!

Mr. Bokbok came in the mail last week, and we found him a nice home on top of one of our bookcases:

I entered the contest to win Mr. Bokbok because I already have a collection of wooden animals that I inherited from my step-mom when she was getting rid of them. I have a whale, a turtle, a swordfish and an owl scattered around our apartment.

I thought the chicken would make a good addition. I didn’t realize it, but I guess I have a thing for wooden animals…

P.S. Valerie also just gave away some Spanish embroidered pillowcases. She seems to be of a generous nature, so you should probably keep an eye on her blog.

While buying beer the other night…

Me: [hands over ID]

Cashier: Oh wow, we have the same birthday.

Me: Well happy birthday in a couple weeks then.

Cashier: Thanks, you too. It’s not very exciting for me though. Only 19.

Me: Well I’m closing in on 30 soon, so not very exciting for me either.

Cashier: Really! Before I saw your ID, I would have guessed no more than 21. Seriously.

Thank you young cashier, you made my day!

I hate shopping in general, so shopping on Black Friday is essentially my hell. Which is why I have never done it, and likely never will. But the Giraffe and I did look through all the ads at my Grandma’s yesterday. There were some crazy good deals, and I understand why people fight the crowds for them, but there are few money-saving opportunities that would get me out of bed at 3am to stand in long lines with crowds of crazy people.

However, we were tempted by a mattress sale because of how awful we’ve both been sleeping lately. The Giraffe wrote all about that at S&M. We have also been wanting a portable external hard drive, but we were hoping to find one online without going to the stores. We didn’t find anything, and therefore didn’t buy one. I also clipped a 50% off Joann’s coupon that’s good only today in-store or online, but their damn website isn’t working, so that’s worthless.

The mattress was a success, but since we actually bought that Thursday night, I guess Black Friday was kind of a bomb for us. Maybe that’s what we get for our unwillingness to leave the house. Anybody else get any great deals?